Wait til I...

WarriorJayne
WarriorJayne Posts: 66 Member
edited September 2024 in Motivation and Support
My brother and I are both overweight, habits learned from our parents. I am 31, my brother will be 25 later this summer. When we were 18 & 12 we lost our father to diabetes. In 2007 our Mom suffered a heart attack and it triggered her MS. My Brother and I are very close knit because of all of this.

When I turned 30, I hit 300+ lbs and was appealed at how I let this happen. Ive been working hard to lose the weight and have found out that I REALLY love the gym. Right now, im in the injured box... and its killing me. I want to get back into the gym SO badly. I have changed my eating habits and really have seen a change.

A few weeks ago, my brother called me on the way home from work. He was in the drive through at a McDonalds for breakfast and I was able to hear what he ordered. I was shocked when I heard that he ordered not one, not two... but THREE meals for himself. I started to urge him to eat better and work out. I bought him new running shoes so that he could walk without pain (his only athletic shoes were converse low tops, not nearly enough support) I even signed him up (with his permission) with my husband and I to the Warrior Dash in September. Something we all were kind like "OMG this is going to be SO COOL!"

Today I offered to set him up with a gym membership to the YMCA since I was going to resign my three year old up for swim class. He told me then " Wait til I'm going to use it." My jaw could have hit the floor. WAIT?? I'm offering you a gym membership to make you stronger, and thinner. So you could go to the pool with us in the summer if you wanted. You could go and know someone and still "be on your own"

I didn't say anything. I know him. He is suborn as I am, and our parents were. I KNOW that I cant push him.... However, I can show him what he is missing. He has become my inspiration. If *I* can get thin, and stronger... what is he doing?

Replies

  • RMinVA
    RMinVA Posts: 1,085 Member
    Congrats on the lost weight so far. And also on your courage to do a "warrior dash.' I run a lot, and am doing my first sprint triathlon soon....but I'm still "scared" by a "warrior dash." :-)

    Sadly, there is nothing you can do except set an example. Focus on yourself and your family. In spite of your family history, it sounds like it still hasn't "clicked" for him.
  • rtmama
    rtmama Posts: 403 Member
    Yes, ditto on the congratulations. That's just fabulous.

    If only it were easy to get people to live healthier lives....if it were, then all of America would be fit and healthy! haha!

    I guess all you can do is hope and pray that he will come around on his own. It's the only way unfortunately. Good luck, and continue to be a good example for him!
  • AnnaPixie
    AnnaPixie Posts: 7,439 Member
    Perhaps it just doesn't bother him. Perhaps he's lazy. Perhaps he's just ignoring the health implications.

    Either way, you can only live your life for yourself. I love that you're encouraging him, but really, you can only lead a horse to water..........

    Focus on yourself honey, perhaps this trip is for only for one :flowerforyou:
  • DropsOJupiter
    DropsOJupiter Posts: 131 Member
    Even with my mother (size 3, her big size was 5) crying and telling me she'd lose the weight for me if she could, I didn't budge. I secretly hoped that a fairy would hand over a magic wand to my mom so she could lose that weight for me or that I'd wake up in the morning miraculously thin. Needless to say, neither the magic fairy wand or the overnight miracle occurred as I ate my way up over 300 pounds.

    I know it is painful for you to see your brother not take advantage of your offers and eating unhealthy. However, you know that it has got to come from within and done for yourself. You've done great so far :bigsmile: and hopefully your brother will see your success and want to jump on board!
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